Do standard slots, table games and live dealer titles still hit the mark or are players looking for games that are totally different? Does this mean revolution rather than evolution?

Swintt wouldn’t be where it is today if we didn’t believe that traditional slots still have a strong place in the market, so I’m more inclined to flip the statement around and say that in this case, I think it’s more about evolution. When we consider “modern” audiences – that is to say, those that are typically in the Millennial/Gen Z age bracket and have grown up with things like smartphones and social media – of course you have to adapt your games to their preferences by including innovative features and more engaging graphics. That being said, it can often also be very market dependent. We’ve had great success in Germany with our SwinttPremium range, as most of these replicate the traditional land-based slot experience that audiences over there are familiar with.

How do studios approach this – do they need to bring in expertise from outside of the industry?

Finding different perspectives is always a great way to breathe new life into your content, but I think the most important thing is still to always be on the lookout for what’s new and what’s performing well in specific markets in terms of themes and mechanics. I mentioned our more traditional SwinttPremium range in my previous answer, but when it comes to being innovative and thinking outside the box, I think you need look no further than our Elysium Studios – Driven by Swintt line-up. Our upcoming title in this collection, Pirate Pledge Hold & Win, really hits on both of the points I mentioned above as it uses the very popular Hold & Win feature and also introduces something completely new by being the first slot we’ve produced to include a Bet Booster option.

What will this mean for current players – will they ever engage with non-traditional content, or will they refuse to spend time/money learning how these formats work?

There will always be players that are resistant to change, but many others will be open to trying out new concepts and ideas. One of the great things about Swintt is that we don’t force players into doing one thing or the other. Our philosophy has always been to provide a wide variety of content that appeals to the broadest audience possible, so on the one hand, we have our SwinttPremium games that appeal to the “traditional slot purists” and on the other we have Elysium Studios and SwinttGames titles, which all boast amazing graphics, immersive themes and innovative features. By doing things this way, we ensure there’s always something in our line-up that can appeal to players in different markets, no matter what their tastes or preferences are.

Ultimately, do studios need to go all-in on producing next gen content or is there enough cross-over that they can create games that appeal to both new and existing players?

As I touched on previously, I think finding the right balance is key. Studios should definitely keep an eye on the changing preferences of players and be ready to adapt and invest in innovation where necessary, but this shouldn’t come at the expense of their more traditional players. If you go all-in on producing next gen content, you definitely run the risk of alienating a large section of your audience who just want games that are quick and easy to play and offer the themes and features that they’re already familiar with. Honestly, you only need to look at markets like Germany and Netherlands to see that this “traditional” audience might be more significant than some of the newer suppliers give it credit for, so I wouldn’t underestimate the power of a classic!

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